Podcast Intro:
Earlier this year, I experienced a conflict in my role as a city councilor that was very hard for me to understand.
It was one of those moments that felt very confusing, like what was going on had way more to do with dynamics below the surface, in the group’s unconscious, than it had to do with the actual content we were discussing.
In an effort to make sense of things, I discovered the field of systems psychodynamics or group relations.
Learning about the topics we discussed in today’s episode—projections, projective identifications, valences, scapegoating, BART (boundaries, authority, role, and task), and more—helped me make sense of what was going on and repair trust in a trying time.
Today’s Guest: Dr. Tracy Wallach
In this episode of Conflict Decoded, I speak with Dr. Tracy Wallach (PhD, MSW), an expert in systems psychodynamics, about how understanding group dynamics can illuminate the root causes of conflict and pave the way for healthier, more effective teamwork.
Tracy is a leadership coach, advisor, trainer, and Senior Lecturer in the Gender, Leadership and Public Policy Program at UMass Boston. She brings decades of experience in helping leaders and teams navigate the complex terrain of human behavior within organizations, offering a perspective that blends psychoanalysis, open systems theory, conflict transformation, and group behavior insights.
Tracy’s expertise in systems psychodynamics has guided countless leaders toward self-awareness, clarity, and constructive conflict transformation.
In This Episode, We Cover:
How to Identify and Address Scapegoating in Teams: Scapegoating happens when a group’s problems are unfairly pinned on one individual, which often masks deeper group issues. Tracy shares ways to recognize when scapegoating is at play—like when a single person is consistently blamed—and explains how to shift focus back to the team’s shared responsibilities. By encouraging open discussions, you can help the group see the bigger picture and avoid the trap of assigning blame to one person.
Practical Tools for Discerning Between Projections & Useful Feedback:
Projections occur when someone unconsciously attributes their own feelings or traits onto another person, which often creates confusion in conflict. Tracy explains how to discern whether feedback reflects genuine concerns or is actually a projection. She suggests pausing to ask yourself whether the feedback resonates with your self-perception or might reveal the other person’s unresolved feelings. With this clarity, you can approach conflict with empathy and a clear perspective.
Using Your ‘Valences’ to Take an Effective Role in Teams
We each bring unique tendencies, or "valences," into group settings, often unconsciously stepping into roles that align with our strengths and personalities. Tracy introduces the “role biography” exercise to help you reflect on how these tendencies have shaped your past roles. By visualizing your history within various group settings, you gain insight into the roles that suit you best and can choose where you’ll thrive within your current team.
The BART Model: A Guide to Clarifying Roles and Resolving Conflict:
The BART model (Boundaries, Authority, Role, Task) is a powerful tool for creating role clarity and cohesion within teams. Tracy recommends starting with a shared understanding of the group’s mission and task, then discussing roles with team members to align expectations. This model helps prevent misunderstandings and gives teams a structured approach to resolving conflicts rooted in role confusion.
Episode Highlights:
"Once we understand how unconscious patterns affect group behavior, we can bring new awareness to our teams, helping to unlock healthier ways of relating."
"Often, our struggles in conflict have less to do with individual behavior and more to do with unresolved dynamics in the group as a whole."